My heart is broken!!

[rainorshine]

Me and a buddy found a new permission today. Homeowners left shortly after our arrival but let us keep hunting anyways. My second target was awesome. I dug some kind of drop pin fully intact. On top it said souvenir. Below that it had a picture of a native american and said deadwood s.d. paha sapa festival 1908. One of my coolest finds to date. Anyways, homeowner came home fir a quick stop and asked if we had found anything. I was excited to show him the pin. Long story short, he kept it. I could see the dollar signs rolling in his eyes. I dont even know if its worth much but I know its more valuable to me than to him. I had already pictured it in my shadow box snuggled in between other such finds. Guess I shoulda kept my mouth shut! Took home 3 wheats and a 1907 v nic. Sorry, not in the mood to post pics

 

[Keith Jackson]

Did you have an agreement worked out with the homeowner? They are essential in situations like this.

 

[sawmill man]

He might have keeped that piece on me , but he would never know if i found anything else. that makes me mad and i dont even know you. sorry buddy.

 

[Worm-Slicer]

I've had an entire site taken from me for that reason, so the best rule of thumb is if you want to keep something you've found, stay mum about it. I learned my lesson BIG TIME on that one...oh but the best revenge Karma came back when I was just across the fence.

 

[A2coins]

Tough break we all lean from them. You will find something better youll see let it go!!!!!!!!

 

[rainorshine]

I guess it's like everybody's fishing story. The one that got away.

 

[trapperart]

I always try to have an understanding up front about the finds. After all they do belong to the land owner.

 

[kingskid1611]

I would have showed him just a couple of wheats and been just as excited about them. He would then think your nuts and leave you be to have it all.......sorry to hear of that one that got away.

 

[ScubaDetector]

That is a hard one. He invited you on his land, but he would never have found it or used a detector. I guess my feeling is if you absolutely know it was there before he bought the house, I would keep mum about unique stuff like that. We all live and learn.

I learned a very long time ago never to show my finds when I get out of the water. I even had the police called on me once.

 

[BigWaveDave]

Been there, and it sucks.
The worst for me is a neighbor got froggy with me at a permission, so After putting her in her place, I showed my ass by bragging about a silver ring I found. An hour later, she comes out, and coerces me to give her the ring, because it belonged to the previous-previous owner of the house, she was still friends with. I was reluctant, but she dangled a carrot to me, promising two OLD yards to hunt, as a trade. As soon as the ring hit her hand, she backed out, left me hanging. I was pissed.

 

[strick]

The hurt will go away and more treasure will be found. A while back I handed over to a property owner 3 civil war era infantry buttons (with gilt) and a gold ring. They are in his collection and not mine. Really bothered me at the time because I had never dug anything like that. But now I'm ok with it and he will let me go back any time I want. But I might forget to tell him if I find another button...

strick

 

[thrifty76now]

That happens more often than most of us realize. I do make my permission deals with owners by stating I will share the finds. Sometimes the good items are kept,and that is o.k. ,because another hunt is on the horizon.

 

[BuckleBoy]

I give finds to the owners all the time. Perspective changes everything, and the more you dig and your collection starts to take over your house, the less the items themselves and the more the memories matter.

I'm sorry you feel badly about this find, but the good news is that you'll be able to return there and dig anytime you like.

-Buck

 

[WHADIFIND]

Been there, and it sucks.
The worst for me is a neighbor got froggy with me at a permission, so After putting her in her place, I showed my ass by bragging about a silver ring I found. An hour later, she comes out, and coerces me to give her the ring, because it belonged to the previous-previous owner of the house, she was still friends with. I was reluctant, but she dangled a carrot to me, promising two OLD yards to hunt, as a trade. As soon as the ring hit her hand, she backed out, left me hanging. I was pissed.

Reminds me of something I told another person in a similar situation. Rather than give them the show of how well their ploy had worked on me. I told them, "I don't do revenge. BUT...I have a good friend who is an expert! And, let me tell you! When HE starts, I would NOT want to be standing in the way!"

Stay strong!

 

[against the wind]

That's really sad news.
I have an 1811 Large Cent w/ a cracked die, in excellent condition. It is my best and oldest LC.
It is from an old farmhouse permission. The owner was there when I dug a Mercury Dime in front of her.
She was surprised but ask for it. She wasn't there when I dug the LC. She didn't ask about any other finds and I didn't volunteer any information. I don't feel guilty and I still have my 1811 LC.
We live and learn.

 

[villagenut]

I searched a permission many many years ago and found my first 1800s coin, an IHC. I was so happy that I crossed the barrier, and when I showed the owner all my finds, he snagged that penny and nothing else. I wanted to go back as it pained me for the next few weeks, and give him a much shinier store bought Indian of the same date in exchange for the dirty dug one. I never did, but I did realize that my other finds for that day were more important than the penny anyways. Looking back, if I would have stuck the Indian in my pocket, he may have taken one of the other artifacts that today are still prized by me. In the end, remember it is a permission and without it neither of you get anything. Try to see the good in what you did keep.

 

[rainorshine]

Im gonna try to get a pic of the item so I can show it to you all. I might get it developed and tuck it somewhere in my collection

 

[WHADIFIND]

Im gonna try to get a pic of the item so I can show it to you all. I might get it developed and tuck it somewhere in my collection

Well, if you go back and ask to take a pic, it would give you a chance to express how much it means to you. OR....to offer buying it back. After all, you saw dollar signs in their eyes.

I think I'd just do the lesson learned route though. One find is not worth all that!

 

[dirtdigginfool]

That totally blows, I feel your pain, as I know it's very hard NOT to want to show your newly found prize off...like Scuba sez, we are finding things that nobody else would have found otherwise...I keep that thought in mind when I'm asked by Mr./Mrs. property owner what I've found, I'll usually show them the clad, a wheatie, etc...now I DO tell them that if I find anything significant to the property, or former owners, I'll clean it up and present it to them, for example, I once dug a silver suspender buckle with "M" monogrammed on it...and as her family was "Miller"...she was excited, almost to tears...when I handed it to her all shiny and clean...now I have full permission to the 210 acres there. Karma, my friend, will prevail, as I PROMISE you that you will find something equal to or better than your pin, very soon! Great post, thx...ddf

 

[Rustic]

I've had an entire site taken from me for that reason, so the best rule of thumb is if you want to keep something you've found, stay mum about it. I learned my lesson BIG TIME on that one...oh but the best revenge Karma came back when I was just across the fence.

I'd love to hear the details, sounds like an interesting story. How did they end up with all the finds? And what did you find across the fence? Not to hijack rainorshine's post, because it sounds like your story will tie in nicely to the topic at hand.